ASR Tactical Kevlar Survival Cord

It’s a fact: technological improvements make simple survival tools more effective. There’s no shame in using a lighter rather than flint and steel, water purification tablets over straining through a sweat-soaked T-shirt, or spraying some deet versus smearing cool, putrid mud all over yourself.

In the same vein, ASR Tactical Kevlar Survival Cord ($7) is decidedly more useful, dependable, and packable than any typical survival rope. Despite being thread thin, it’s incredibly strong — this is the material used in bulletproof vests afterall — and capable of supporting up to 200 pounds, making the overall trade-off between size versus strength heavily tilted in your (survival’s) favor. A polyurethane coating further protects against abrasion and adds heat resistance to the rope’s super-hero qualities. On top of all that, the price is as small as its profile: $7 for 25 feet. For something that could save your life in a pinch, that’s a pittance.

The Briefing

Long gone are the days when the commuter bike was an old-school mountain bike with a potpourri of parts and a rear wheel that was only roughly true. A rise in people looking to build fitness, lower their carbon footprint or simply have fun while getting around has created a big market for commuter bikes. Here are some of our favorites for 2015.